Dirigible spot lamp



Feb. 6, 1951 H. R. GROSS 2,540,257

DIRIGIBLE SPOT LAMP Filed Dec. 5, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet l u INVENTOR.

Feb. 6, 1951 H, R, GROSS 2,540,257

DIRIGIBLE SPOT LAMP Filed Deo. 3, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 f E H6,

JN V EN TOR.

Feb. 6, 1951 H. R. GRoss DIRIGIBLE SPOT LAMP 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 3, 1947 Patented Feb. 6, 195.1

UNITED STAT PATENT F DIRIGIBLE SPQT H enry R. `Gross, Chicago, lll. Application December 3, 12147, Serial 2 cette. (o1. 24o-61.13) I K This invention relates to a dirigible spot lamp, I

and more particularly to a spot lan/ 1p .for Amounting on an automobile.

It isa principal obj ect oi the .invention to simplify theconstruction of a dirigiblespotlight and to provide a construction which is morereadily susceptible to mass production thereby to reduce the cost thereof, whilefat thesame time providing amore ecient and rugged structure.

.Other objects .o f the invention are to .provide a more eljcient and less expensive means j'ior holding `.the spot light at any angle to which it may be adjusted or manipulated; to provide a more rugged and less expensive means for carrying the .electric .current '.to ,the spotlight; and to provide a dirigiblespot light which is to .be mounted on either the right or left side of the automobile .at will.

.Qtherand further objects and advantages of the invention will .be apparent from .the vfollowing description when taken in connection with thefollowing drawings wherein:

Fig. l is a v ievv in perspective of a dirigible spot lamp embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 vis an enlarged, fragmentary view in vertical section taken substantially along line 2--2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a Vfragmentary view in vertical section taken along the 'line 3--3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 ris a View in vertical section taken along the line. lf- 4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. r5 is a View in vertical section taken along the line 5 5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. Vbis a View in vertical section taken along the line 6 6 of Fig.` 2;

Fig. 7 is ,an exploded view in perspective of oertain parts of the spot lamp priorto their assembly in manuia'cture;

'Figs 8 and 9 are Views in perspective lshowing the manner of assembling the rotary conductor and rotation impelling unit of the lamp;

Fig. 10 is a view in vertical section showing the -assembly of the lamp revolving unit with the rotary-conductor and rotation impelling end;

Fig. 1l is a view inperspective of the combined support and journal of the lamp unit, and

Fig. 12 is anexploded view in perspective of the friction bearing lmount for the lamp on the head housing.

Asshown in the drawings, a preferredembodiment of the invention comprises a lamp uniti ;of any suitable construction including a .housing .or-- shell .4 having an opening 6. in its bottoml part to receive partV of a bracket rotatablyysupported xon .athrust bearing l0 .mounted a vrotatable support or head 'fhousinglZ -journaled -on acornbined 'mounting tbefand v1j ournal `l 4 adapted'-to pass lthrough'a suitable fopeninglin the framing post-of lan Aautomobile.` The combined .mounting tubeand journal I4 has rotatably journaled' on its 4-inner 4lend --ahandle `.housing .15, in which is mountedacontrolsvvitch' I8 `iorituiningthe lamp on 'and off, and-on" which Ais `rotatably?mounted ea handle 29 causing rotation of the lamp unitiwhen it is .rotated relative' to .thehousing .I 6 -and.caus. ing .revolution of the .lamp -unit .when .it rotates the housing .l-.

.The combined mounted .tubeand journal .L4 maylbeflxedeor-securedinanvdesired `or suitable knownmanner, not shown, toatherame postor .the .automobile .in such .manner .as .to .s .eeure' it against rotation. .lhehandlel preierablyeen- .sists of ya plastic .tube :.22 daring outwardly at .its lower .end and molded @bouten internally thread.- .ed externally.kuultleslmeteleleeye L :Lfheleere .24ils5tl1readed-enltlleella1ik Qfanatuatlee .their er .resi 16 laying fbeyelesi ...gear 2.8 .formed .ln- .tesrally .thetewithet ille lleeergendltheleet The .Sleeve 2.4 llerraes .lll lits lueperertlell with .all enlergedfbete- .Aaleexebli .rental 39m-'paal :QI nl fertile-r @einem uelllofthehousil .me .is also' fernen within enlarged" vthe collar 3&4 A .the handle f beniqsethe. .tearrrigrortiie handit .c0911. the housing` and provided with a mounting chamber 48 in which is mounted a combined switch and connector 50` secured to the upper wall of the chamber as by a screw 52 threaded into the mounting block of the switch. The switch is so mounted that its outwardly spring urged connective pin 54 is positioned on the axis of the longitudinal bore 56 of the housing. The bore 56 is provided with an enlarged inner end portion 58 in which is journaled the hub of a centrally apertured bevel gear 66. The gear 60 intermeshes with the gear 28 and is provided with a longitudinal key or spline 62.

The open end of the housing I6, and the chamber 48 thereof, are closed by a die cast cap '64 placed over the reduced annular flange portion 66 of the inner end of the housing and secured thereto as by one or more screws 68, Fig. 1, threaded into openings in the liange 66. The cap 64 pivotally supports by 'means of a pin |0 threaded into a boss l2 formed in the cap a switch operating f member `|4v having a spring mounted plunger 'I6 which connects and disconnects one switch lug or plate, as for yexample the plate 'I8 ofthe switch, to a transverse switch lug or plate 80 which is connected electrically in any suitable manner to the spring urged connective pin 54, the switch plate 'i8 being connected to the lead-in Wire 82.

The gear 60 receives the inner end of a combined rotation mpeller and electric connector 84,

' Figs. 9 and 10. This unit is made and assembled as follows: An insulated wire 86, Fig. '7, is stripped at .its opposite ends and the bared end 88 of the wire is inserted in a metallic sleeve which is crimped, soldered or otherwise affixed to the wire.

"The sleeve 96 is formed with an enlarged head or connector disk 92. An insulating sleeve 94 is telescoped on the wire 86 before the end 88 is centrally apertured bevel gear is press fitted on the other end of the tubev 96 and that end of the tube is peened over as at |02, Fig. 10, to prevent the gear from moving on the end of the tube. This gear |00 of course is assembled with the tube 96 prior to the insertion of the wire 86 therethrough. The wire 86 having been inserted in the tube 96 is opposite bared end |04 projecting from the end of the gear and on that end of the wire is telescoped an insulating sleeve |06, an insulating washer |08, and a connector sleeve IIO. The sleeve |86 is of an external diameter adapted to snugly t within the tube 96 and an internal diameter to lit over the sleeve ||0 which is provided with an enlarged portion II2 forming a rotary electric connector drum.

After the various sleeves have been assembled on the end 88 of the wire, the wire is inserted 'through the tube 96 and the various sleeves and washers are placed on the other end |04 of the wire. The whole is then placed in a fixture which holds the tube 96 stationary and presses upon the outer faces of the drum part ||2 ofthe connector ||0 and the disk 92 of the sleeve 90 so as to press the insulating sleeves into the ends of the tube 96 into tight fitting relation therein until the axis of the hollow boss |38.

the washer |08 is strongly' clamped between the drum part II2 of the connector |I0 and the end of the tube 98. The sleeve 90 being crimped to the other end of the wire its position with respect to the gear 60 is automatically determined by the location of the washer |08 abutting the other end of the tube.

The press tting of the insulating sleeves 94 and |06 in the ends of the tube 96 assure rotation of the wire and the end connectors with the rotation of the tube.

The rotation impelling and connecting unit 84 is loosely journaled in a connector tube I4 which connects the interior, handle bearing housing I6 to the external, lamp supporting and revolving housing I2. The tube II4 is formed at its inner end with milled at key surfaces ||6 and 8 which, as it will presently appear, permit the housing I6 to be oriented in either one of two angular positions relative to the axis of the tube while keying the tube to the housing.

The housing I6 is formed with a transverse aperture |26, Fig. 5, having a reduced portion |22. Aperture |20 receives a keying pin |24 having a milled fiat key surface |26 adapted to cooperate with a selected key surface ||6 and I I8 to secure the tube II4 and housing I6 against relative rotation. The key pin |24 is formed with a reduced threaded end |28 which passes through the reduced portion |22 of the transverse aperture and projects therebeyond to receive the mounting nut |66. It should be noted that the relatively,- angularly disposed key surfaces ||6 and ||8 permit relative angular orientation of the housing I6 and tube I|4 as necessary for mounting on the right or the left hand side of an automobile.

The tube ||4 is formed at its other, outer end with a key slot |32 and opposite to the key slot a threaded opening |34. The external lamp supporting housing I2 is preferably a die casting having an open chamber |36 at its outer end, a hollow boss |38 upstanding from the housing I2 and an axial opening |40 communicating with the chamber |36 and extending transversely to The opening |40 is formed with enlarged portions |42 and |44 on opposite ends thereof. The portion |44 of the opening is of a diameter to provide a journal for the beveled gear |00 while the portion |44l is of a size to receive the mounting and supporting tube I4 so that that tube forms a journal for the housing I2. The central portion of the opening |46 is formed with an integral axially extending key or spline |46 to receive the key slot |32 in the tube II4. A locking screw |48 passes through a suitable opening in the housing I2 and is threaded into the opening |34 of the tube II4 to secure the tube against longitudinal movement relative to the housing I2.

The housing I2 at its inner end is split by a slot |60, Fig. 6, to form clamping sections |52 and |64, the sections having aligned openings transverse to the housing to receive a clamping screw |66 and the section |54 being internally threaded so that on tightening of the clamping screw the sections |52 and |54 will be brought together to set up the desired rotational friction between the stationary mounting tube |4 and the housing |2 so that the bracket I2 and the lamp 2 will remain in any angular position to which it may be set.

The gear |00 meshes with like beveled gear |58 having a hub |60 received in a stud |62 to which it is keyed as by the pin |64. The stud |62 is formed with spaced annular anges |66 receiving between them a split ring Istiofrrlction'material. The thrustbearing-IO consists :of a sleeve Ihaving a peripheral iiange |10 seated in acornplementary groove in the -up'perend o'f the boss Ilvof the housing I2. The bearing Vvsleeve is also formed with an internaliiange |12 at its upper v'end to form a retaining ring 4 cf a helical spring |14 interposed between the fiiange I'I-2 and the upper peripheral flange |66 of thestud |62. The external surface of the sleeve above the flange `forms a bushing or journalfor the rotation of the bracket -8, Vthe outer portion of which is formed with an annular recess to receive the upper portion of the'sleeve. 1

The sleeve is also provided internally with-'an upper portion |86 which is vof -lessdiameter than the lower portion thereof yto `form an internal shoulder |18 which is'adapted to engage the upper peripheral ange |66 'of the 'stud |02 to serve as Aa limit stop. The bearing sleeve I0 -is assembled Awith the stud |02, with vwhich the gear 'V58 has aready been assembled, *by va Vpressing operation which forces the bearing sleeve over the "friction ring I 68, the external dia-meter of whichis slightly grea-terun'compressed than the'internal diameter z 'ofthe bearing sleeve.

The stud is formed above the bearing sleeve 'I with a key portion formed by opposite at vsides V"|80 fitting in a hole of like lconformation inthe bracket 8 'sothat the bracket is keyed to the stud for rotation therewith. Above `the "key portion V180 the stud 'is 4forl'ned'with a threaded end |82 on which is'mounted 'a lock washer |04 and a locking or 'clamping nut 186.

The bearing sleeve "I0 is "formed with `a lpair ring lholds the lamp unit against free or inad- -ver-tent rotation whiie allowing "the stud to rotate relative to thethrustbearing on intentional yfrctation of the gear |58. Thesleeve I0 'is keyed tothe housing -I-2'as vby'cross pin v|95. The gear |58 and the stud |02 are provided with an axial i opening extending completely therethrough and an insulated conductor |96 passes therethrough from a wire |98 of a lamp unit to a connector pin 200 resiliently maintained in engagement with the drum portion II2 of the connector IIO by a coil spring 202 interposed between the gear |58 and the enlarged head of the connector pin. The chamber |36 of the housing I2 is closed by cap 204 having a part circular flange 205 received in the chamber and secured to the housing I2 by a screw 208 passing through an opening in the lower wall of the housing and received in a threaded opening in the part circular Wall 206 of the end cap.

The mounting and supporting tube I4 passes in the usual manner through an appropriate. opening in the corner post between the windshield and side window of an automobile and is lxedly secured thereto in any convenient manner, as by the usual bracket having a split ring portion which is tightened to rigidly clamp or lock the mounting tube I4 against rotation. The tube I4 at its inner end is formed with a part circular `portion 2| 0, Fig. 11. the opposite longitudinal edges 2I2 of which form buttons or stops engageable with theopposite edges of alug and r'key 2 I4 :formed on the vinternal Wallof the longitudinal opening of the housing 'I6 so that the revolution 'of the housing 1B, and the consequent revolution of the lamp unit about the common axes of the several tubes to raise or lower the lamp unit, is held within the limits prescribed by the laws of the various states.

The spot lamp constructed in accordance with the present invention-may be assembled as follows:

The rotation impelling and conductor unit 84 is inserted in the housing "I2 prior to the location of the cap 204 so that the unit extends from the 'inner end of the housing and the gear bears against the inner Wall of the chamber |36. The 'rotation drive unit including the gear |58, the stud |62 and the assembled thrust bearing I0 is prcliminarily assembled with the bracket 8 and the bracket riveted to the housing shell `4 of the lamp unit. The lampis'now assembled with the housing I2 by inserting the thrust bearing sleeve I0 into the opening `of the boss |38 of the housing and the gear |58 brought into meshing relation with the gear |00 and the vconnector pin 200 bears upon the drum `I I2 of the connector sleeve I`I0. The housing cap 204 is then placed in position and secured by the screw 208. The tube II4 is now inserted into the housing I2 from the inner vend thereof by aligning the key slot |32 with the internal key |46 and "pushing the tube inwardly `until the opening :|34 is aligned with the complementary opening in the bottom of the housing l2, at which time the set screw |48 Yis threaded into the opening r|"34'to secure the tube I I4. The

mounting and supporting tube I4 is then inserted in the housing I2 and the screw I 56 tightened '.frictionally vto clamp the housing to the tube I4.

The housing I6 having been assembled with thehandle unit 20, the gear 60 and the switch unit I8 andthe closing gap '64., the assembled unit 84, tube vII4 and tube I4 are inserted in the housing I6, 'the Whole being rotated until the key slot 98 of the tube '.96 registers with the internal key 62 of the jgear '160, and the whole is "then pressedinwardly until the tube I4 bottoms againstthe internal shoulder formed by the outer enlarged portion of the central opening of the housing. The housing IB vis then rotated on the tube II4 until one of the key surfaces IIB and II8 is aligned with the opening |20 in the housing. The pin |24 is then inserted with its flat surface |26 engaged with the selected key surface of the tube II4 and a nut |30 applied to secure the pin to the housing and thereby key the housing to the tube I I4. The assembly of the spot lamp is thus completed. On installation of the spot lamp in an automobile the entire inner control unit is removed by detachment of the pin |24. The external unit is then inserted through the prepared opening in the frame post of the automobile and the bracket mounted on the frame post to receive it is then clamped to the tube I4. The installation is completed by replacing the interior control unit which is swung on the Atubes I4 and II4 to clear adjacent parts of the automobile and to position the handle in the proper position when the lamp unit is in vertical position and the pin |24 is then replaced and locked by the nut |30.

The nat key surfaces IIB and ||8 of the tube II4 are so placed in angular relation to the key slot |32 at the opposite end of the tube that when the lamp is installed on the lefthand side of the automobile the key surface I|6 will, when Vthe lamp unit is in vertical position, be `aligned with the opening |20 Whereas when the entire unit is mounted on the righthand side of an auto-l mobile, With the lamp unit in vertical position, the key surface I I8 will be aligned with the open-v ing |20.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that applicant has provided an invention to simplify the construction of a dirigible spot light, and a construction which is more readily sus-- ceptible to mass production to reduce the cost thereof, while at the same time providing a more eicient and rugged structure. Applicant has also provided a more efficient and less expensive means for holding the spot light at any angle to which it may be adjusted or manipulated, a more rugged and less expensive means for carrying the electric current to the spot light, and a dirigible spot light which is to be-mounted on either the right or left side of the automobile at will.

It will be obvious that changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages, and

the right is hereby reserved to make all such of 'the foland telescoped shafts connecting the head and handle housings and the gears therein to cause revolution of the lamp on revolution of the handle housing and rotation of the lamp on rotation of the gear in the handle housing, a handle unit comprising a stud having a gear formed integrally therewith at one end` to engage the gear in the handle housing, said housing having an opening therein of greater diameter than said gear to permit insertion of the gear into the housing through said opening, a sleeve having an inner portion extending into said opening to close lthe same and secured to said housing and having an outer portion extending from said opening, said stud being journaled in the inner and outer portions of said sleeve, said stud. being externally threadedat its lower end, a hollow handle having an internally threaded portion threaded on the lower portion of said stud and an internal bore portion of greater diameter than said threaded portion and above said threaded portion to receive the lower portion of the sleeve and journal the handle to said sleeve, and a nut within said bore portion of greater diameter to lock said stud andV said handle in non-rotatable relation.

2.-, In a dirigible spot lamp having a handle housing and a drive gear in said housing, a handle unit comprising a stud having a gear formed integrally therewith at one end to engage the gear in the handle housing, said housing having an opening therein of greater diameter than said gear to permit insertion of the gear into the housing through said opening, a sleeve having an inner portion extending into said opening to close the saine and secured to said housingand having an outer portion extending from said opening, said stud being journaled in the inner and outer portions of said sleeve, said stud being exterr naily threaded at its lower end, a hollow handle having an internally threaded portion threaded on the lower portion of said stud and an internal bore portion of greater diameter than said threaded portion and above said threaded portion to receive the lower portion of the sleeve and journal the handle to said sleeve, an annular internal shoulder between the portions 0I' dinerent diameter of said bore, the lower portion'of the sleeve terminating short of the annular internal shoulder in said handle and a lubricating ring surrounding said stud and confined between the lower end of the sleeve in said internal shoulder of the handle.

HENRY R. GROSS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

